Any Other Girl

by Rebecca Phillips

Overview

“A deftly written story of friendship, romance, and second chances.” --Natasha Sinel, author of The Fix

After a disastrous, reputation-destroying party at the end of junior year, Kat Henley has a new plan. When it comes to boys—especially other people’s boys:
 
Don’t touch.
Don’t smile.
Don’t charm.
 
In the past, drawing attention to herself helped distract people from what really makes Kat different—having two gay parents. But it’s also cost her friendships. Kat can’t afford to lose any more of those, especially not her cousin, Harper. They’re spending one last summer together at the lake, where they run into an intriguing newcomer named Emmett Reese. After years of trying to prove she’s just like everybody else, Kat has found someone who wants her because she’s not. A boy who could be everything she wants too—if Harper hadn’t liked him first…

“A wise, heartfelt story about self-image, first love, and the burdens we carry for those most important to us. I didn’t want the summer to end!”--Jessica Verdi, author of What You Left Behind

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781617738838
Publisher:	Kensington
Publication date:	01/26/2016
Sold by:	Penguin Random House Publisher Services
Format:	eBook
Pages:	272
File size:	2 MB
Age Range:	14 Years

About the Author

Rebecca Phillips has been a fan of contemporary young adult fiction ever since she first discovered Judy Blume at the age of twelve. After a brief stint writing bad poetry as a teenager, she finally found her niche with realistic, coming‑of‑age YA. Her novel, Out of Nowhere, was a finalist in the 2012 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest. She's also the author of the Just You series and Faking Perfect.

Rebecca lives just outside the beautiful city of Halifax, Nova Scotia, with her husband, two children, and one spoiled rotten cat. She absolutely loves living so close to the ocean. When she’s not tapping away on her laptop, she can be found vacuuming up cat hair, spending time with her family, watching reality TV, reading all different genres of books, or strolling around the bookstore with a vanilla latte in her hand. Visit Rebecca on her website www.rebeccawritesya.com and on Twitter @RebeccaWritesYA.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Rebecca Phillips’ Faking Perfect
 
“Edgy and honest, Faking Perfect is the real thing.” –Huntley Fitzpatrick
 
“Poignant, edgy, and real, Faking Perfect is an honest look at the courage and strength it can often take simply to be yourself.” —Julianna Scott, author of The Holders

From the Publisher

Kat, the main character, is extradited from her group of friends when she unconsciously flirts with her best friend Shay’s boyfriend. As the school year comes to a close, she spends her final days isolated before heading to the lake with her parents. As her texts to Shay go unanswered, she settles into the cottage preparing for the best summer ever with her cousin Harper. However, the summer begins with change: the local burger joint has undergone remodeling and new owners of a neighboring cottage take up occupancy. Emmett, the new boy, leaves all the girls gunning for him, including Harper. As the story moves forward, Kat becomes the object of Emmett’s affection, leaving her pushing aside her own feelings to spare Harper’s feelings. A week together pushes Kat and Emmett closer, but their passion is quickly extinguished when Kat is wrought with guilt. Emmett’s family turmoil, Harper’s estranged father, and Kat’s unique family situation add drama and a more complex dynamic to this teen novel. The story follows a narrative format that will appeal to all readers growing up in a time when family dynamics vary. The characters are more complex than expected, and as the story unravels, there is a need to pull the thread, which surprisingly reveals more depth. The author includes special focus on the two fathers, who are perfectly portrayed with their imperfections and neuroticisms of packing cooking appliances and bickering lovingly the way a long-term couple does. It gives readers a sense of normalcy in love and marriage, no matter who is involved—a woman and a man or a man and a man, in this case. Kat was written as a child wanting to defend her parents’ right to be gay and live happily, but whatever some may think is normal in society, she is the lucky one. The constant throughout the story is a kid with two parents who love her very much. It is a good message and it is appreciated. Reviewer: Mirta R. Espinola; Ages 11 to 18.

VOYA, February 2016 (Vol. 38, No. 6) - Mirta R. Espinola

01/01/2016
Gr 9 Up—Operation Best Summer is under way for Kat Henley. After a bitter ending to her junior year due to not being able to keep her hands off her best friend's boyfriend, Kat is eager to get away to her parents' summer cottage. She decides she needs to undergo some changes and tries to redeem her past behavior by setting up her cousin Harper with the new neighbor, Emmett. The plot resembles Jane Austen's Emma with diverse families and contemporary issues. Underlying the romantic drama are various family dynamics, which help build character complexity. The novel has a slow beginning, taking a while to build steam and interest. Drinking and sexual situations make this appropriate for mature teens. VERDICT Readers who push past the leisurely start will find a light, romantic tale with intriguing characters—just enough to persuade readers to see how Kat's summer ends.—Briana Moore, School Library Journal

School Library Journal